Draft regulator for steam boilers



Feb. 26 1924.

A. C. DOLE, SR., ET' AL DRAFT REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed March 19, 19.21 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented F 26, 1924.

ARTHUR C. DOL, SR., AND ARTHUR DOLE, J R., OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

DRAFT REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS.

Application led March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,787,

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR C. Donn,

Senior, and ARTHUR C. DOLE, Junior, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Draft Regulators for Steam Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in draft regulators for steam boilers. y

It is particularly adapted for use in connection with boilers which supply steam to heating systems, and is adapted for advantageous use in connection with a vapor vacuum heating system.

The object of our invention is to provide a novel draft regulating apparatus which is simple in construction, cheap to make, notliable to get out of order, durable, which is efcient in operation, and which may be readily* applied to boilers now in use.

A further object of .our invention is to provide a draft'regulating mechanism, which will afford a great economy in fuel, and which is wholly automatic in its operation.

The novel features of our invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of our invention, y

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of a boiler provided with ourV improvement shown partly in vert ical section and partly in side elevation.l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig.. 1.

Y Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; g

Fig. 4. is a reduced side elevation of our improved apparatus shown used in connection with a heating system.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away, of our improved apparatus.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6 6 0f Fig. '1.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates an ordinary steam boiler provided with an ordinary hinged draft closure 2 which controls the admission of air to the fire box. 3 designates a hinged draft zontal diaphra m 7, b means of a to late 8, and bolts 9.g p p The plate 8 is provided with an u wardly extendlng arm 10, on which is fu crumed by a horizontal pin 11 a lever 12.

Rods 13 and 14 are respectively pivoted at their upper ends to the lever 12 at opposlte sides of the fulcrum pin 11,and respectively adjacent to the ends of the lever.

The lower ends of the rods 13 and 14 are respectlvely pivoted to the closures 2 and 3. The arrangement is such that when `the lever 12 is swung to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, the closure 2 will be closed and the closure 3 willbe opened. The 4 positions of said closures will be reversed when the lever 12 is swung to the position` shown in dotted linesl in Fig. 1.

To the'center of the diaphragm 7 is attached the lower end of a vertical rod 15 which has its upper end pivoted to the lever 12di111t1ermediate of the pivot pin 11 andthe ro Steam pressure in the boiler when the" pressure reaches a pre-determined amount will swing the lever 12 to the closed position.

pre-determined point, rthe lever 12 will be swung to the open position shown in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

For holding the leverl12 in either 'the open or the closed position, during a substantial change in pressure in the boiler and without having the lever 12 operated to change the positions of the closures 2 and 3, the following described mechanism may be provided.

A support for a weight is mounted on the lever 12 and consists of a suitable 'frame 16 having at its opposite ends respectively two downwardly extending arms 17 which are respectively upwardly and downwardly slidably mounted in two clamping members 18 which are longitudinally slidably mounted on the lever 12', to which said members are adapted to be' clamped by set screws 19.

,The frame -16 is provided with a longitudinal runway 20, on which is adapted to run a rollin weight, preferably comprisin a relatively eavy ball 21, which is mounte between lateral guide bars 22, which form part of the frame 16.

The arrangement is such that. when the lever 12 is oscillated past a horizontal plane, the runway 20 is tilted in opposite directions with respect to the horizontal, so that the ball weight 21 will alternately travel on the runwa 20 across a vertical plane in which is locate the fulcrum 11. By means of this construction, when the lever 12 is swung by 5 steam pressure from the position shown in dotted lines to the osition shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, the all weight 21 will roll from a point at the ri ht of the fulcrum pin 11 to a point at the. le of said fulcrum pin, as viewed in Fig. 1, in which last named position the ball weight 21 will hold the lever 12 N in the closed osltion, until the pressure in the boiler fal s to such an amount that the atmospheric pressure at the outside of the boiler will force the diaphragm 7 downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, upon which the lever'12 and the frame 16 Awill assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, upon which the ball weight 21 will roll on the runway 20, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position it will remain until the boiler pressure has risen suiiciently to again swin the lever 12'to the position' shown in soli lines in Fig. 1.

For adjustably limiting the movement ofthe ball wei ht 21 in opposite directions respectively,'t ere are provided two stop members 23 and 24, whic are longitudinally adjustable on the runwa 20, to which each stop member may be c amped by means of a set screw 25.

In each of the members 23 and 24, there is provided an inwardly inclined recess, in which is fitted a rojecting coil spring 26, against which the all weight 21 is adapted to strike and which limits the movement inv one direction of said weight.

B adjusting the stop members 23 and 24, to ierent positionS, the closures 2 and 3 may be made to open and close at such pressures in the boiler as may be desired. A

The springs 26 prevent shock when the ball 21 rolls from one position to the other.

Referring to Fig. 4, which shows the apparatus used in connection with .a heating system, 27 designates the steam supply pipe, to which are connected radiators 28, by pipes 29. 30 desi ates pipes respectively connecting the radgi-eltors 28 with a return pipe 31, which is connected in the usual manner to the boiler 1. In the pipe 30 may be provided the usual air eliminatorfixture 32.

In the operation of our invention', the frame 16 is adjusted longitudinally onv the lever 12 to balance the lever 12 and parts connected'therewith, with the ball 21 removed,

l the stop members 23 and 24 at their-farthest distance apart, and the boiler at atmospheric pressure. The ball weight 21 is then mounted on the runway. Vertical adjustment of the frame 16 at its ends is for the pui' ose of leveiing it. The sto members 23 an 24 are adjusted to suit t e partial vacuum and steam pressure desired in the boiler l1.

When the pressure rises in the boiler 1 to an amount such that the lever will be swung from the position shown in dotted lines in- Fig. 1, to the position shown in solid lines in 'said figure, steam will fillthe radiators 28 through the pipes 27 and 29, and the closure 2 vwill be closed, while the closure 3 will be open. The ball wei ht 21 will run to the position shown in so id lines in Fig. 1, thel pressure, the steam in the system will be condensed, thereby creating a partial vacuum ink the boiler 1, and pipes connected therewith. The degree of pressure reached by the partial vacuum in theboiler will depend upon the weight of the ball 21 and the position on the runway 20 occupied by the stop member 23. Thus, by' adjustin on the runway 20, tie apparatus may be made to operate to open the closure 2 and to close the closure 3 at any desired vacuum in the boiler, independently of the steam pressure required to tilt the lever 12 in the opposite direction. In like manner, by adjusting the stop member 24, the apparatus may be made to open the csure 3 and close the closure 2 at any desire steam pressure, independently of the vacuum pressure which operates the a paratus.

' Owin to t e fact that there is lost m0- tion an an accelerated rate of speed in the passing of the ball weight 21, from one side of the fulcrum pin y11 to the other side thereof, with respect to the movement of the lever 12, the ball wei ht 21 will hold the closure 2, and also the c osure 3 in either the open orv jdiaphragmf', Athe lever 12 will be swung .--from` the position shown in solid lines to the 'howliin dotted lines in Fig. 1. ball` eight 21 will then roll to the position shownl in- Fig. 4, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby holding the lever 12 in a position such that the 'closure 2 will remain o f The draft being increased steam in tliiboiler will be again produced until such time as the steam pressure is suicient to again swing the lever 12 to close the closure 2. As above stated, with our improved apparatus, it may be made to operate at any the stop member 23 llO 1. In an apparatus of the kind described,A

a lever, means actuated by pressure for oscillating said lever, 'a support mounted on l said lever and having a run-way arranged to be tilted in `o posite directions when the lever is oscillate two stop members adjustable -toward sind frcm each otler on Asaid support an ispose respective at opposite sides'of the fulcrum of saidylever, and

a weight movable by gravit on said runwaywhen the latteris tilte vand arranged to ave its movementin op osite directions respectivel limited by sai stop`i'nembers,

substantial y'as set forth. j g

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a lever, pressure actuated meansfor oscillating said lever, a-support mounted on said levenandfarranged to be tilted in op osite directions when the lever is oscillate two -stop members ad'ustable towand and from each other on sai support at opposite sides respectively of the 4vertical plane of the fulcrum ofv said lever, and a rolling weight mounted on said support and arranged, to

have its movement .in opposite directions limited by said stop. members respectively, substantially as set forth. i

3. In an apparatus of the kind described,

60 a lever, pressure actuated .means for oscillating said lever, a support longitudinally adjustable on said lever and adjustable vei'- tically at its respective end eachend indeL pendentl of the other, the support being arrange `to be tilted in o' posite directions when the lever is oscillate two stop members adjustable toward and from each other on 4sai 'su port at opposite sides respectivel of t e fulcrum of the lever,' and a weig t movable b avity on said support 'across .the vertica p ane of the fulcrum of tle lever when the supportis tilted and arranged to have itsfinovement in opposite directions limited respectivelyby said stop members, 'substantially as set' forth. 4. 'In aniapparatus'of the kind described,

the combination with a boiler havingta draft closure, of a lever, means connecting the lever and closure b which the latter is n opened and closed w en the lever .is oscillated, means controlled by pressure in the boiler `by which the leveris oscillated, and adjustable means( by which the lever ma be held fromswinging in one direction until a predetermined steam pressure is obtained in the boiler.,l and by which the lever isv held from swinging m-the other direction until apredetermined vacuum pressure is obtained in the boiler and independently of changes in the maximum 'steam pressure employed, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, thecombination with a boiler having a draft closure, of adjustable means controlled by pressure in the boiler for moving the 'closure to the opens-.and closed positions, and arranged-to be adjusted so as to movev the closure to one of said positions at different steam pressures, and to move the closure" to the other of said positions at different vacuum pressures in the boiler and independentlyof the-steam pressure employed, sub"- stantially as set forth.

6."In an apparatus of'the kind described, a lever, means actuated by pressure for oscillating said lever, a support on saidlever, two stop members on sald support one adjustable. toward andfrom the other, and a weight movable by gravity on said support when the latter is tilted, and arranged to have its movement in opposite directions limited by said stop members, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus-of the kind described, a lever, means actuated by pressure for oscillating said lever, a support on said lever,

two stop members eac adjustable. toward and from the other on said support, and

a` weight movable by gravity on said support when the latter is tilted, and arranged to have its range of movementlimited by said stop members, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, a lever, means actuated by pressurefor oscillating said lever, a support vertically adjustable at one end on said lever, two sto members adjustable one toward the oI` er on said support,and a weight movable by gravity on said support when the latter is tilted and arranged to have its range of movement limited by said stop members, substantially as set forth.-

9. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination with a boiler having heating controlling means, of adjustable means controlled by pressureI in the boiler for actuating said controlling means and arraii ed to be adjusted to actuate the controlling means to reduce. the heating of the boilerV Vat different steam pressures, and adjustable to actuate the controlling means to increa'se the heating of the boiler. at different vacuum pressures i'n the boiler independentlyofthe. steam pressure employed, substantially as set forth.

. In testimony names to this specification.

whereof we have signed our x ARTHUR C. DOLE-SENIOR,

Y ARTHUR o. DOLE, :more 

